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So far pgh has created 66 blog entries.
14 Aug

Serenity

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My love for “Seinfeld” never ends. There must have been a recovering alcoholic on the writing staff of that show, for references to AA are peppered throughout the seasons. In one episode, Frank Costanza, George’s father, repeatedly shouts, “Serenity now!” when he is agitated or annoyed. Told by his doctor to do this every time [...]

11 Aug

Alcohol Songs

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Any time you write a list of the “Best” of anything, you are bound to leave out a lot. During my drinking days, I always gravitated toward artists that sang about my favorite pastime, drinking. Here are a few of my favorites: 1. “Tanque Ray” - by Nick Lowe. Tanqueray is a type of gin. [...]

8 Aug

Types of Addiction

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Many alcoholics find that once they begin recovery, they are hiding other underlying addictions. This shouldn’t be a surprise as all addictions are very similar and caused by the same conditions. Addiction is often defined as an obsessive or compulsive need to perform an act, resulting in loss of control, despite negative feedback. We all [...]

5 Aug

The Culture of Alcoholism

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While doing a little research for this piece, I came across a website that featured the 10 Best Gifts for Alcoholics. Not the 10 Best Gifts for Recovering Alcoholics, but for real, active alcoholics. It was horrifying. Nearly all of the gifts were focused on hiding the alcoholic behavior. A fake beer belly, strapped to [...]

1 Aug

The Language of AA

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If there is anything that will turn a person off of AA or any other 12-Step Program, it is the inside lingo, the slang that is used within the programs. Sit down and have a cup of coffee with me while I interpret some of what you will hear at a meeting. The “Big Book [...]

28 Jul

Ten Myths About Alcoholics

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There are many reasons I never sought treatment for my excessive drinking. But basically, it comes down to one thing: I never saw myself as an alcoholic. I didn’t fit the profile or my image of what an alcoholic looks like. Below are ten common myths about alcoholics that helped me justify my continual drinking: [...]

25 Jul

Drug Abuse as a Disability

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Because alcoholism and drug abuse are often seen to be genetic, a movement is taking place to classify these illnesses as official disabilities. This may seem like an innocuous idea, but the ramifications are extensive. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) currently recognizes alcoholism as a disability. As such, employers may not refuse to hire [...]

21 Jul

Alcoholism and Drug Abuse in the Workplace

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As a manager, I am responsible for hiring and firing dozens of employees every year. I interview dozens more. In our state, it is legal to require drug and alcohol testing prior to hiring and at any time after hiring, providing there is reasonable suspicion that a person is either using or intoxicated on the [...]

15 Jul

How To Help An Alcoholic

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Our family has a member who is currently suffering from a number of psychological issues. Alcohol is not involved, but the story is similar. This person is angry, paranoid, depressed, and causing problems for both their immediate and distant family members. The question has arisen numerous times – how do we get this person straightened [...]

11 Jul

Celebrity Alcoholics

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Why is it that I have such a hard time seeing Marsha Brady as an alcoholic? Was she not perfect (except for that broken nose)? Didn’t she have it all? How did Marsha Brady (Maureen McCormick) turn into an alcoholic? Why did success not buffer her from addiction? The singer we know as “Pink” (Alecia [...]